Heart Disease Often Overlooked in Favor of Anxiety

by Bottar Leone, PLLC

Your heart is pounding, your skin is clammy and you can’t take a deep breath. You head to the emergency room, certain that something is wrong. You are seen by a medical professional who diagnoses you as having had experienced a panic attack or as suffering with anxiety. But could they be wrong?

Many people who suffer with anxiety have similar symptoms to those who are suffering with heart disease. In some cases, the two issues may be related, and medical professionals may not stop to consider a heart condition in the face of what is clearly anxiety. Similarly, doctors may completely misdiagnose a person as having anxiety when the real issue lies within the heart.

Heart disease and anxiety often have similar symptoms. This is what makes proper diagnosis difficult. Symptoms of both conditions include chest discomfort, fatigue, shortness of breath and palpitations. When someone experiencing these symptoms seeks medical care and does not have a familial history of heart problems, the diagnosis may be anxiety. And it may be incorrect.

Those who have researched heart disease say that doctors need to be objective. Rather than simply assuming that a patient is suffering with anxiety, they need to conduct tests to rule out heart disease, especially in those without a history of heart problems. Once detected, heart disease can be treated and its chance of worsening lessened. Early detection of heart disease can mean a better prognosis. When medical professionals fail to diagnose heart disease correctly, they are putting patients at a very real risk of serious health complications in the future.

When medical professionals fail to diagnose heart disease correctly, they may be deemed negligent. If a patient is harmed by such a misdiagnosis, they may be have legal recourse. Any person who believes that they were misdiagnosed should seek the advice of an attorney.

If you believe that a doctor failed to diagnose your issue properly, you may have a case. Call our office today and let us review the details of your case at no cost to you. We will advise you of your options and help you determine which steps to take next. Reach out to us now or browse our website for more information about our firm and how we can assist you.